Odom’s offer comes as county commissioners are considering spending $11.5 million to renovate the Courthouse Annex in Shalimar to eliminate almost $1 million in annual rental expenses. The bulk of that comes from renting 25,318 square feet for the tax collector and property appraiser offices at JG Plaza for a little more than $515,000 a year.

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said Odom’s offer is “interesting.”

“I think we’re in a position where we can consider all options,” he said. “The building’s not cheap, but one tremendous advantage it does provide is it has a revenue stream associated with it. … From a business perspective, that makes good sense. When I look for something to invest in or a piece of property to buy, I look for something that has cash-flow potential.”

But the purchase of JG Plaza also presents complications, Boyles said.

“One thing we’ll have to consider is we’d be taking a prime piece of real estate off the tax rolls if we were to buy it, and that’s something we can’t take lightly,” he said. “But if it makes good sense for the taxpayer, it’s worth considering.”

After Odom learned of the discussion, he decided to present the county with an offer on the building he opened in September 2009.

“It’s named after my father,” he said. “I built it to keep it for long-term, but … selling it would be a reasonable option.”

Odom sent a letter to county commissioners Friday detailing the offer, the building’s amenities and current tenants.

“My building is 100 percent full of rent-paying tenants,” he said. “The building would generate the county money.”

The building houses 10 tenants in addition to the county.They are Blue Point Seafood Market, Frankie’s A Salon, Coffee Grounz, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bank of America, Verizon Wireless, Landrum Human Resources, AVG Technologies, Global Etelecom and Motorola. They pay a total of almost $1.29 million in annual rent.

Odom said the county would get a building with a built-in revenue stream in “an established location right in the center of town.”

“The building is very new. It’s very green,” he said.

JG Plaza also is equipped with emergency generator capabilities, glass that can withstand 150 mph winds, dual elevators and security systems that include fingerprint recognition software, he said.

County Administrator Jim Curry said Odom’s offer will join several others that are now on the table.

“I think the board will want to look at it,” he said. “It’s very timely to have received that offer at this time.”

A task force recently recommended the county spend $11.5 million to renovate the annex and another $1.7 million to build a 12,500-square-foot addition to the Sheriff’s Office’s administrative complex in Shalimar.

Under that plan, the Sheriff’s Office’s functions at the annex would move out to accommodate the supervisor of elections, county commissioners, tax collector, property appraiser and a portion of the clerk of court’s office.

The county also agreed to devote about 15,000 square feet of the annex to satisfy the Meigs Family Trust, which gave the property to Okaloosa in 1973. A clause in the original deed states that the complex would revert to the family if all court functions are ever removed.

Some county officials have said it’s time to renew negotiations with the Meigs Family Trust.

“We know that we can maintain the use of the annex facility in Shalimar if we keep some judicial footprint there,” Boyles said. “I think the county is committed to doing that if we have to, but it may make good economic sense to consider the possibility of negotiating for a buy-out of that reverter clause.”

Curry said the county will incur an annual cost for accommodating judicial space at the annex.

“There’s certainly a cost associated with having court security,” he said. “You have to look at that and put a value to that. … There are a number of different options out there, and we’ve just got to vet each and every one of those before we make the final decision.”

Odom’s offer comes as county commissioners are considering spending $11.5 million to renovate the Courthouse Annex in Shalimar to eliminate almost $1 million in annual rental expenses. The bulk of that comes from renting 25,318 square feet for the tax collector and property appraiser offices at JG Plaza for a little more than $515,000 a year.

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said Odom’s offer is “interesting.”

“I think we’re in a position where we can consider all options,” he said. “The building’s not cheap, but one tremendous advantage it does provide is it has a revenue stream associated with it. … From a business perspective, that makes good sense. When I look for something to invest in or a piece of property to buy, I look for something that has cash-flow potential.”

But the purchase of JG Plaza also presents complications, Boyles said.

“One thing we’ll have to consider is we’d be taking a prime piece of real estate off the tax rolls if we were to buy it, and that’s something we can’t take lightly,” he said. “But if it makes good sense for the taxpayer, it’s worth considering.”

After Odom learned of the discussion, he decided to present the county with an offer on the building he opened in September 2009.

“It’s named after my father,” he said. “I built it to keep it for long-term, but … selling it would be a reasonable option.”

Odom sent a letter to county commissioners Friday detailing the offer, the building’s amenities and current tenants.

“My building is 100 percent full of rent-paying tenants,” he said. “The building would generate the county money.”

The building houses 10 tenants in addition to the county.They are Blue Point Seafood Market, Frankie’s A Salon, Coffee Grounz, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bank of America, Verizon Wireless, Landrum Human Resources, AVG Technologies, Global Etelecom and Motorola. They pay a total of almost $1.29 million in annual rent.

Odom said the county would get a building with a built-in revenue stream in “an established location right in the center of town.”

“The building is very new. It’s very green,” he said.

JG Plaza also is equipped with emergency generator capabilities, glass that can withstand 150 mph winds, dual elevators and security systems that include fingerprint recognition software, he said.

County Administrator Jim Curry said Odom’s offer will join several others that are now on the table.

“I think the board will want to look at it,” he said. “It’s very timely to have received that offer at this time.”

A task force recently recommended the county spend $11.5 million to renovate the annex and another $1.7 million to build a 12,500-square-foot addition to the Sheriff’s Office’s administrative complex in Shalimar.

Under that plan, the Sheriff’s Office’s functions at the annex would move out to accommodate the supervisor of elections, county commissioners, tax collector, property appraiser and a portion of the clerk of court’s office.

The county also agreed to devote about 15,000 square feet of the annex to satisfy the Meigs Family Trust, which gave the property to Okaloosa in 1973. A clause in the original deed states that the complex would revert to the family if all court functions are ever removed.

Some county officials have said it’s time to renew negotiations with the Meigs Family Trust.

“We know that we can maintain the use of the annex facility in Shalimar if we keep some judicial footprint there,” Boyles said. “I think the county is committed to doing that if we have to, but it may make good economic sense to consider the possibility of negotiating for a buy-out of that reverter clause.”

Curry said the county will incur an annual cost for accommodating judicial space at the annex.

“There’s certainly a cost associated with having court security,” he said. “You have to look at that and put a value to that. … There are a number of different options out there, and we’ve just got to vet each and every one of those before we make the final decision.”